diff --git a/tools/perf/util/map.c b/tools/perf/util/map.c
index 668410b1d426..44b556812e4b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/map.c
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ bool map_groups__empty(struct map_groups *mg)
 
 struct map_groups *map_groups__new(struct machine *machine)
 {
-	struct map_groups *mg = malloc(sizeof(*mg));
+	struct map_groups *mg = zalloc(sizeof(*mg));
 
 	if (mg != NULL)
 		map_groups__init(mg, machine);